DETAILED REVIEW

Before I begin my report on this brand-new motorhome range from the Pilote Group, I should perhaps state here and now that the Moovéo 564 joined the Compass Calypso and Roller Team 200 in my entirely personal top three stars of the NEC show.

There are many reasons for this, but one of the biggest is that the C564 turned out to be one of the cheapest coachbuilt motorhomes at the show - down to you for just £26,650 on-the-road.

And it's not as if the Moovéo looks or feels like a stripped-out cheapo special, either. Naturally enough, it warrants the new X2/50 Fiat Ducato base vehicle (in standard 100 Multijet guise, although the terrific 130 Multijet engine is available as a £1,200 option) and the entirely denuded bumpers and simple, squared-off rear suit the motorhome down to the ground. You'll note the lack of alloy wheels, too, but again, steel wheels seem to suit the Moovéo, while this is another example of the handful of converters who have managed to create an overcab moulding that genuinely suits the shape of the new Fiat.

So, where's the catch, then? It must be inside, surely? Not at all. How do swivelling cab seats, a half-dinette, fixed rear bunks (complete with convertible garage and wide-opening side door), end washroom with separate shower and a cracking luton bed grab you? The kitchen sports a large sink, too, together with a bang up-to-date Thetford Fridge with LCD controls, while the cabinetry throughout is simple in appearance, but rock-solid to the touch.

Furnishings throughout are bright and cheerful, not least in the washroom, where the green and white cabinets should look dreadful, but actually look bright and funky. And while the red/gold net curtains and pull-out plastic sheeting in lieu of a proper shower door look and feel a bit naff, the design elsewhere is spot-on, not least in the overcab bedroom, where the single window is at the foot end of the bed, meaning you can sit up comfortably in bed and read. I'm at a loss to explain how anyone could possibly think that putting the Truma gas/electric space heater by the door was a good idea, though.

The bunks are better thought-through, with each getting its own window and reading light, and the upper bunk getting the added bonus of a fitted book/magazine pocket, while the lounge is perfectly sociable with the cab seats swivelled.